Development of a Local, Integrated Disaster Risk Assessment Framework for Malaysia

This study developed an integrated disaster risk assessment framework (IDRAF) to measure disaster risk at the local administrative boundaries in Malaysia. The proposed framework can enhance government effort for disaster risk reduction by implementing an integrated disaster risk framework and guiding decision makers to properly evaluate and analyze risk for mitigation, preparedness, and planning. The framework was developed, expanding from the multi-hazard spatial overlapping and Methods for the Improvement of Vulnerability Assessment in Europe (MOVE) theoretical framework. There are five significant phases to develop this framework: problem formulation, data collection, multi-hazard characterization, multi-dimensional vulnerability characterization, and weightage determination. The IDRAF proposed for Malaysia consists of eight hazards and six vulnerability dimensions, which consist of 16 factors (or vulnerability group) and 54 indicators. The multi-hazard characterization has two components: frequency of occurrence and spatial interaction. The multidimensional vulnerability characterization reduces vulnerability indicators using principal component analysis (PCA). Measuring integrated risk is an effective strategy at the local level or national level to assess the potential disaster impacts in detail and accurately. This study will offer explicit knowledge and boost community competency, creating techniques and tools to analyze various risk factors and vulnerability indicators for decision makers and practitioners.

Hygienic evaluation of diflubenzuron-based pesticides in various application technologies

Introduction. In connection with the widespread introduction of new preparative forms of pesticides and methods of their introduction into the environment, the urgent task of the modern period is to minimize the risk of exposure to pesticides on the health of workers and the population-the use of diflubenzuron of low and medium toxicity increases. Therefore, a mandatory criterion for assessing risk is registration tests, carried out during several stages - as hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment, risk characterization. Purpose of work. To assess the regularities of the formation of the risk of diflubenzuron by exposure and by the absorbed dose, depending on the type of preparative form of pesticides with different technologies of their introduction and regulating safe use measures. Materials and methods. The obtained exposure levels of insecticides based on diflubenzuron in the air and on the skin were compared with the hygienic standards calculated and experimentally established as follows: MPC (mg/m3) in the air of the working area and approximate admissible level (AAL) (mg/cm2) of skin contamination. The exposure level risk was determined by the safety level (SL) SLsumm value. The risk of exposure to insecticides based on diflubenzuron for the operator / user / refueller / pilot / signaller based on the absorbed dose, determined by the safety factor - SLp, and the exposure -SBsumm, is considered acceptable when SLsumm and SLp <1. Results. The paper presents the risk analysis results of the impact of diflubenzuron-based insecticides studied in natural conditions using 27 drugs with different preparative forms and methods (technologies) of their introduction into the environment. The risk of exposure to insecticides (SLsumm) for all technologies is acceptable SL. The risk of absorbed dose (SLp) was more significant regardless of the type of formulation. Wettable powder formulations are more unfavourable to use than other formulations. Conclusion. The conditions for the use of preparations based on diflubenzuron in the technologies of ground boom spraying and fan spraying of field and horticultural crops, in the treatment of field and forest crops by the aerial method, in the treatment of field and horticultural crops in private household plots, in the treatment of champignons in protected ground, compliance with regulations and measures safety meet hygienic requirements.

ASSESSING RISKS CAUSED BY NICKEL-CONTAINING NANOMATERIALS: HAZARD CHARACTERIZATION IN VIVO

Nanoparticles (NP) of nickel (Ni) and its compounds are promising materials for being used as catalysts in chemical, pharmaceutical and food industry; as construction materials in electronics and optoelectronics, in manufacturing current sources, medications, diagnostic preparations, and pesticides. Annual production volumes for these materials in their nano- form are equal to dozen tons and are expected to growth further. According to data obtained via multiple research nano- forms of Ni and its compounds are toxic to many types of cells; stimulate apoptosis; and can induce malignant transforma- tion in vitro. It indicates that this group of nanomaterials can possibly be hazardous for human health. Risk assessment in- cludes such a necessary stage as quantitative hazard characterization, that is, establishing toxic and maximum no-observed- adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) for a nanomaterial that penetrates into a body via inhalation, through undamaged skin, or the gastrointestinal tract. Experiments in vivo performed on laboratory animals with Ni-containing materials revealed overall toxic effects; toxicity to specific organs (including hepatoxoticity and cardiotoxicity); atherogenic, allergenic, and immune- toxic effects, as well as reproductive toxicity. There are multiple available data indicating that all Ni-containing nanomate- rials are genotoxic and mutagenic, though data on their carcinogenic potential are rather scarce. Factors that determine toxicity of Ni and its compounds in nanoform are their ability to penetrate through biological barriers and to release free Ni++ ions in biological media. The review focuses on analyzing and generalizing data on toxicity signs in vivo and effective toxic doses under various introductions of Ni and its compounds in nanoform into a body over a period starting predominantly from 2011.

ASSESSING RISKS CAUSED BY NICKEL-CONTAINING NANOMATERIALS: HAZARD CHARACTERIZATION IN VIVO

The paper dwells on examining mortality among men due to malignant neoplasms (MNs) in Russia and in Norilsk and Monchegorsk, two monotowns located in the Arctic zone with the only industry there being nickel production. Nickel is a well-known carcinogen. Given rather small population numbers in these two towns, the authors calculated mortality due to MNs that was aver- aged over 8 years (2010–2017) for 5-year age groups and standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for employable and post- employable ages as per this nosology in general and specific MNs localizations as well. Mortality was comparatively analyzed in two male populations in the following pairs: Monchegorsk and Russia, Norilsk and Russia; the analysis was based on data on climatic peculiarities in the towns, working conditions at industrial enterprises, ecological situation, and socioeconomic features including an existing situation in public healthcare. Socioeconomic welfare and public healthcare quality were close to average Russian ones in Monchegorsk, but SMR for employable population was higher than on average in the country: due to MNs in general, by 34.7 %; nickel-specific MNs such as MNs of the lip, mouth, and throat, by 2.2 times; MNs in the stomach, by 1.5 times. In Norilsk working conditions were similar to those in Monchegorsk but the environmental conditions were worse; still, mortality among employable population was lower: due to MNs in general, by 15.4 %; MNs of the lip, mouth, and throat, by 14.0 %; due to MNs in the stomach, by 39.3 %. In comparison with Russia as a whole, mortality due to MNs was also lower at employable age but higher by 21.6 % at post-employable one. A decrease in MNs-related mortality and carcinogenic effects becoming apparent at older ages were achieved due to organizing up-to-date oncologic aid in Norilsk including high-tech diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation procedures as well as due to higher living standards in the town.

ASSESSING RISKS CAUSED BY NICKEL-CONTAINING NANOMATERIALS: HAZARD CHARACTERIZATION IN VIVO

Nanoparticles (NP) of nickel (Ni) and its compounds are promising materials for being used as catalysts in chemical, pharmaceutical and food industry; as construction materials in electronics and optoelectronics, in manufacturing current sources, medications, diagnostic preparations, and pesticides. Annual production volumes for these materials in their nano- form are equal to dozen tons and are expected to growth further. According to data obtained via multiple research nano- forms of Ni and its compounds are toxic to many types of cells; stimulate apoptosis; and can induce malignant transforma- tion in vitro. It indicates that this group of nanomaterials can possibly be hazardous for human health. Risk assessment in- cludes such a necessary stage as quantitative hazard characterization, that is, establishing toxic and maximum no-observed- adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) for a nanomaterial that penetrates into a body via inhalation, through undamaged skin, or the gastrointestinal tract. Experiments in vivo performed on laboratory animals with Ni-containing materials revealed overall toxic effects; toxicity to specific organs (including hepatoxoticity and cardiotoxicity); atherogenic, allergenic, and immune- toxic effects, as well as reproductive toxicity. There are multiple available data indicating that all Ni-containing nanomate- rials are genotoxic and mutagenic, though data on their carcinogenic potential are rather scarce. Factors that determine toxicity of Ni and its compounds in nanoform are their ability to penetrate through biological barriers and to release free Ni++ ions in biological media. The review focuses on analyzing and generalizing data on toxicity signs in vivo and effective toxic doses under various introductions of Ni and its compounds in nanoform into a body over a period starting predominantly from 2011.

Improving depth estimations of African earthquakes using teleseismic data, and influence for the East-African rift seismic hazard characterization

SUMMARY Well-constrained earthquake depth estimations are important for seismic hazard determination. As local networks of the East-African Rift are usually too sparse for reliable depth estimations, we used detections of pP and sP phase arrivals (the so-called depth phases) at teleseismic distance to constrain earthquake depths in this region. We rely on a fully automatic Cepstral analysis approach, first validated at the global scale using the ISC-EHB catalogue, then applied on the East-African seismicity. We investigated 9575 earthquakes from magnitude 2 since 2005 which allows us to constrain the depth estimation of 584 events with magnitude mainly above 3.5, complemented by 139 reliable depth estimations from previous studies based on teleseismic data as well. To ensure a final catalogue as complete as possible, we also identified from regional catalogues 113 earthquakes assumed to be well constrained, based on network geometry empirical criteria. Thanks to this study, we finally propose new earthquake depth distributions for the seismic source zonation defined by Poggi et al., in order to estimate the seismic hazard of the East African Rift region. Including those new distributions in the source models leads to significant changes of seismic hazard assessments results.